Article 1. General Provisions And Definitions of California Public Utilities Code >> Division 1. >> Part 3. >> Chapter 1. >> Article 1.

Any municipal corporation may retain or surrender to the commission the powers of control vested in it to supervise and regulate the relationship between any one or more classes of public utilities, and their present or prospective customers, consumers, or patrons, and, if it has retained such powers over any class of public utilities, may thereafter surrender such powers to the commission.

This chapter shall not be construed to authorize any municipal corporation to surrender to the commission its powers of control to supervise and regulate the relationship between a public utility and the general public in matters affecting the health, convenience, and safety of the general public, including matters such as the use and repair of public streets by any public utility, the location of the poles, wires, mains, or conduits of any public utility, on, under, or above any public streets, and the speed of common carriers operating within the limits of the municipal corporation.

Unless the context otherwise requires, the definitions and general provisions set forth in this article govern the construction of this chapter.

"Municipal corporation" means a city and county or incorporated city.

"Legislative body" means the board of supervisors, municipal council, commission, or other legislative or governing body of a municipal corporation.

"Powers of control" means all powers of control vested in a municipal corporation to supervise and regulate (a) the relationship between public utilities and their present or prospective customers, consumers, or patrons. The term does not include the powers of control vested in any municipal corporation to supervise and regulate the relationship between such public utilities and the general public in matters affecting the health, convenience, and safety of the general public, including matters such as the use and repair of public streets by any public utility, the location of the poles, wires, mains, or conduits of any public utility, on, under, or above any public streets, and (b) the speed of common carriers operating within the limits of the municipal corporation.

"Railroad corporation," "street railroad corporation," "common carrier," "gas corporation," "electrical corporation," "telephone corporation," "telegraph corporation," "water corporation," and "public utility" have the same meaning as is given to them, respectively, in Part 1 (commencing with Section 201).